Sen. John F. Kerry stopped in the city to thank supporters today in a bittersweet speech that included criticisms about the state of national politics.

Mr. Kerry leaves the Senate tomorrow after 28 years to become President Obama's secretary of state.

Speaking to students and other supporters at College of the Holy Cross, Mr. Kerry criticized bitter partisanship and the role of special interests in politics.

"We cannot be a country... that has lost our willingness to work together for the greater good, for the common good, and not always have a perpetual 24-7 political campaign," he said. "And we cannot be a country that allows so much money to come from such special interests that it crowds out the voices of average Americans."

He said he will miss the work of being senator, from facilitating projects that revitalized parts of Worcester, to visiting U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"This has been the ride of a lifetime, and I thank you," he said.

He also vowed not to permanently leave Massachusetts. "I'm going to continue to fight for this great state I love," he said.

Mr. Kerry is scheduled to give a farewell address in Boston tonight. He will assume his role as the country's top diplomat on Monday.

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